Sitting on a hilltop high above the Alentejo and overlooking the Maranhão reservoir, Avis marks the place where Portugal’s story begins. Avis took shape long before there were kings to rule, flags to wave, or frontier settlements to fight over. At the heart of its history, Avis saw Roman soldiers watch over the land, Muslims build hilltop defences and irrigation channels, and medieval warrior monks rule from the castle to the monastery; all of their legacies are embedded in the town's core.

Formally established in 1211 as part of the Reconquista, Avis quickly became an important agricultural centre as well as the key stronghold for the Order of Avis. The castle and its walls were more than just a defence system; they helped define the town, anchored Portugal’s southern territories, and asserted control over the Alentejo, giving Avis political importance on Portugal’s southern border for centuries.

While history books keep the House of Avis in the spotlight, the town’s granite foundations tell a story far more intriguing than any royal family tree. Beneath the whitewashed facade, you’ll discover a place where secret tunnels, oddball rulers, and clandestine visitors shaped the story of a town that official histories still try to keep under wraps. Avis is a village that brews multicultural mystery with a haunted past, just waiting to be uncovered.

This village at the root of Alentejo history has a way of connecting you with the heart of what it means to be Portuguese. So come to Avis and chase the ghosts of medieval monk-warriors through the old ruins while watching the sun go down over the reservoir. Your seat at the root of Portugal’s history is waiting.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Your Guide to Avis

Where medieval walls whisper royal secrets, rolling Alentejo landscapes stretch to shimmering reservoirs, and centuries of culture, festivals, and traditions fill the air with life and color.